Sophomore thrower Stipe Zunic (Zadar, Croatia) earned the first Gator victory of the 2012 outdoor season as he claimed the men's javelin title at the UCF Invitational on Friday afternoon.

Zunic turned in a 73.84m/242-03 mark in the event, tallying the second-furthest throw of his career (75.01m/246-01, 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships).

“Stipe, Fawn and Jeremy all opened up well today,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I’m really pleased with their starts to the outdoor season, and I’m also pleased with David Triassi’s personal best in the hammer throw.”

Junior thrower Jeremy Postin (Auburndale, Fla.) came in second in the men’s hammer throw, tossing a mark of 65.81m/215-11 to finish just ahead of teammates David Triassi (St. Johns, Fla.) and David Levin (Altamonte Springs, Fla.), who finished fourth with a personal record of 56.55m/185-06 and seventh (49.67m/162-11), respectively.

On the women’s side, reigning SEC women’s champion in the javelin, Fawn Miller (Stoneboro, Pa.), came in second in the event with a throw of 48.01m/157-06. Multi-event athlete Brittany Harrell (McComb, Miss.) and thrower Manuela Burtsher (Naples, Fla.) each had solid showings in the event, tossing 33.56m/110-01 and 32.91m/108-00, respectively.

“Brit is coming off a great performance at NCAAs,” Holloway said. “She threw the javelin today which isn’t done indoors, so we’re trying to get her ready to compete at Texas Relays next weekend and have her automatically qualify for NCAAs so we can focus on the conference meet.”

In the men’s long jump, sophomore Josh Pederson (Clermont, Fla.) finished fifth with a mark of 7.21m/23-8, just .03 meters away from his personal best.

“I’m really looking forward to the running events tomorrow,” Holloway said. “We’re ready to get on the track and see what we can do.”

Competition continues tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. ET beginning with the women’s discus. Heat sheets are available here and the schedule for the two-day event can be found here.

For all of the latest information on Florida track and field, please log on to www.GatorZone.com/trackfield or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow Florida track and field on Twitter at @GZTrackField or www.twitter.com/GZTrackField. You can also find the Gators on Facebook.

2012 UCF INVITATIONAL (MARCH 23-24, 2012 – ORLANDO, FL)

Women’s Javelin                                   

2.     Fawn Miller, 48.01m/157-6

14.   Brittany Harrell, 33.56m/110-1

17.   Manuela Burtsher, 32.91m/108-0

Men’s Javelin

1.     Stipe Zunic, 73.84m/242-03

--      Zane Breakiron, FOUL

Women’s Pole Vault

11.   Claire Spurling, 3.65m/11-11.75

15.   Caitlin Schuessler, 3.50m/11-5.75

Men’s Pole Vault

9.     Max Lang, 4.80m/15-9

--      Anthony Amodio, NH

--      Kyle Mailloux, NH

Men’s Long Jump

5.     Josh Pederson, 7.21m/23-8

Men’s Hammer Throw

2.     Jeremy Postin, 65.81m/215-11

4.     David Triassi, 56.55m/185-6 (PR)

7.     David Levin, 49.67m/162-11